“In 10 year’s time, this league would be massive if you extend it to five players. If you don’t extend it to five players, it’s going to be the same.”

At present, the league permits teams to add up to three DPs, players club’s are allowed to sign to big contracts while counting for only $350,000 against the cap.

With the MLS salary cap at around $3 million, it’s easy to see why people find it fairly far-fetched that the league will compete with the world’s best within a decade.

“It’s probably easy to think that if that’s going to happen our investment in players would probably have to go up,” Garber said. “In order for that to happen we want our revenues to go up too.”

The fear, as the commissioner alluded, is financial expansion that outpaces TV and stadium revenue. On Saturday, MLS became the longest operating North American league in history, topping the old NASL as it entered its 18th season.

“I believe in the system that we have,” Garber said. “I believe that it has allowed us to be careful and strategic in growing the league. I believe it’s created stability for professional soccer in North America. The structure that we have is not going to change. I hope we’re able to generate more income so that we can invest more money on players.”

The issue at the forefront is current TV ratings.

While TV numbers have steadily improved, only five games on ESPN/ESPN2 drew more than 500,000 viewers in 2012. As Garber pointed out before Saturday’s match, Canadian TV numbers have been more impressive, with 541,000 tuning in to watch last year’s MLS opener on TSN and RDS.

“I think growing national television ratings is a long-term process,” Garber said. “I think it’s part of building a local fan base, very much like what went on with hockey. (Hockey) had 90-plus percent (attendance) in most of their stadiums; A very local, rabid fanbase. (The NHL) was able to transition that into a national and continental following.”

As Garber put it, the league is still young when compared to other North American leagues, meaning MLS fans in Vancouver aren’t as likely to watch a nationally televised game between New York and Philadelphia simply because they’re new to MLS.

As clubs and fans and generations of supporters continue to grow with the league, Garber’s thought is local onlookers will come to identify just as much with the entire league as they do with their local MLS clubs.